Magnesium asparaginate is a

magnesium Magnesium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 ...

salt of

asparagine Asparagine (symbol Asn or N) is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. It contains an α-amino group (which is in the protonated −NH form under biological conditions), an α-carboxylic acid group (which is in the depro ...

, an amino acid. Magnesium asparaginate has been referenced in limited contexts, primarily as a component in a potassium and magnesium asparaginate solution used in cardiac surgery to maintain electrolyte balance. It is not approved as a standalone therapeutic agent or

dietary supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill (pharmacy), pill, capsule (pharmacy), capsule, tablet (pharmacy), tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients eithe ...

in major jurisdictions such as the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

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Medical uses

Magnesium asparaginate similar to other magnesium amino acid chelates could potentially be used as a mineral supplement to prevent and treat magnesium deficiency (

hypomagnesemia Magnesium deficiency is an electrolyte disturbance in which there is a low level of magnesium in the body. Symptoms include tremor, poor coordination, muscle spasms, loss of appetite, personality changes, and nystagmus. Complications may in ...

), which can arise from conditions such as poor diet, alcoholism, certain medications like diuretics, or gastrointestinal disorders that impair absorption. Magnesium is vital for normal cellular, nerve, muscle, bone, and heart function. Magnesium asparaginate has good oral bioavailability. It is also investigated for its potential benefits in chronic fatigue and recovery after cardiac surgery.

Research

Magnesium asparaginate's documented use is limited to a single

clinical study Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human subject research, human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel v ...

in cardiac surgery, where it was combined with potassium aspartate in an

intravenous Intravenous therapy (abbreviated as IV therapy) is a medical technique that administers fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration or to provide nutr ...

solution to maintain

electrolyte An electrolyte is a substance that conducts electricity through the movement of ions, but not through the movement of electrons. This includes most soluble Salt (chemistry), salts, acids, and Base (chemistry), bases, dissolved in a polar solven ...

balance during coronary artery procedures. This application is investigational, and Magnesium asparaginate is not standard in cardiac care protocols.

Comparison with magnesium aspartate

While both magnesium asparaginate and

magnesium aspartate Magnesium aspartate is a magnesium salt of L-aspartic acid, an amino acid, with the chemical formula . It is used as a mineral supplement, and as an ingredient in manufacturing of cosmetics and household products. As magnesium is an essential ...

are magnesium salts of amino acids, the key difference lies in the amino acids used. Magnesium asparaginate is derived from

, whereas magnesium aspartate is derived from

aspartic acid Aspartic acid (symbol Asp or D; the ionic form is known as aspartate), is an α-amino acid that is used in the biosynthesis of proteins. The L-isomer of aspartic acid is one of the 22 proteinogenic amino acids, i.e., the building blocks of protei ...

. Both forms serve as magnesium supplements with similar absorption characteristics, magnesium asparaginate is typically used in clinical settings for electrolyte management, whereas magnesium aspartate is more common in oral supplementation for conditions related to magnesium deficiency.

Chemistry

Magnesium asparaginate, also known as magnesium L-asparaginate, is the magnesium salt of the amino acid asparagine. Its molecular formula is , indicating that two molecules of asparagine coordinate with one magnesium ion to form a neutral compound. In this structure, the divalent magnesium ion (Mg²⁺) is chelated by the asparaginate anions, which contain both amino and carboxyl groups, allowing for stable binding. This chelation enhances the water solubility of the compound, which is important for its absorption and bioavailability as a dietary supplement. Magnesium asparaginate is used to provide magnesium, an essential mineral involved in numerous physiological processes, and asparagine, which plays a role in protein synthesis and cellular metabolism. The coordination chemistry of magnesium asparaginate is similar to other amino acid-magnesium complexes, where the amino acid ligands stabilize the magnesium ion in solution, contributing to its favorable pharmacokinetic properties.

References

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